Credit: Falls Township Police
The victim of a shooting walked into Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township Friday night at around 7:30 p.m. was still in surgery at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.
The male victim was brought to the hospital by Charles Byle III, 26, of Nettletree Lane in the Levittown section of Falls Township, police report. Byle was later charged with firing the shot that struck the victim in the in the right bicep and became lodged behind his heart.
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According to Falls police, Byle brought the victim to the hospital and claimed he did not know who shot his friend. The victim was unable to speak to investigation due to his injuries, court paperwork filed Saturday morning says.
Bristol Township officers who responded to the hospital said Byle had large blood stains on his jeans, sneakers and white t-shirt. Hospital staff placed his bloody sweatshirt in a plastic bag.
Byle is alleged to have said the shooting took place in the area of Route 13 and Edgely Avenue in Bristol Township, according to police. Later, he reportedly admitted the shooting took place in Falls and he only said it happened it Bristol Township to “avoid getting in trouble.”
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Bristol Township detectives Greg Beidler and Doug Slemmer arrived at Byle’s home in the 50 block of Nettletree Lane to continue the shooting investigation just before 9 p.m. On scene they spotted a trail of blood leading to a large amount by the front door of the home. The detectives requested Falls Township officers to the home for assistance.
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The detectives and Falls officers entered the house through an unlocked door. Inside, the investigators found a water bong in the sink, a “large amount of fireworks” and blood leading from the front door to a first floor bedroom, according to court papers. Police said a revolver was found sitting on a shelf in an open desk.
Early Saturday morning, Falls investigators spoke with Byle. He told them he was cleaning the gun because it had some rust on it and began talking to the victim. He said he leveled the gun in the direction of the doorway and pulled the trigger; the victim was then struck, according to court papers. It was also noted that Byle said he was looking the victim in the eyes when the shot was fired.
“Byle claimed he was surprised that it fired as he is in the habit of keeping the chamber under the hammer as well as the next chamber empty for safety,” Falls Detective Gregory Small wrote in court papers.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
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The revolver, Byle said, was from a former girlfriend who bought the gun and left it in his house when the relationship fell apart, according to police.
Inside the Nettletree Drive house, police reported finding an unlabeled orange pill bottle with six blue-colored tablets inside. Police said the suspect the pills are Oxycodone.
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Neighbors report police were on scene of the Nettletree Drive home all night and crime scene investigators returned to Saturday morning.
Byle is charged with aggravated assault, persons not to possess firearms, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Online court records have not been updated as of press time with a bail amount for the 26-year-old.
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Byle has a 2004 conviction for robbery, simple assault, theft and receiving stolen property, police said. Court records show he had run-ins with local police since.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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